Timing disc assembly



Feb. 21, 19 67 F HAUSER TIMING DISC ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 12, 1965 INVENTOR. Hnuse'e mbaif;& A /m firroeA/Exr.

United States Patent W 3,305,649 TIMING DISC ASSEMBLY Fred Hauser, 1544 Midvale Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90024 Filed Jan. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 425,035 Claims. (Cl. 20038) This invention relates in general to timing devices of the character in which a rotating timing part interferes mechanically during its rotation with portions of stationary switch means to actuate a mechanical or electrical means associated with the switch means. More particularly, the invention relates to a timing disc and timing part assembly adapted to be used in such timing devices.

The timing disc and timing part assembly, of the present invention, may [be employed in association with timing devices norm-ally used for programming or controlling automatic operations such as in operating lawn sprinkling controls, as disclosed in my co-pending applications, Serial No. 185,637, filed April 6, 1962, entitled Timing Devices and Serial No. 300,371, filed August 6, 1963, also entitled Timing Devices. In these timing devices, a timing clock or similar means is employed to trip a switch associated with the programming controls. The present timing device assembly is particularly adapted to be employed in the timing clock device of such timing devices, but it is contemplated that the timing disc and timing part assembly of the present invention may be used in any device in which a rotating timing part is employed to selectably ope-rate a stationary switch means, whether it is mechanical or electrical.

. In prior timing clock devices, a plurality of pegs have been used with a rotating timing disc to actuate associated switch means through interference therewith by the pegs. In operating these devices,.a peg is placed on the disc in whatever position a peg hole in the disc allows to determine when the switch means is to be operated. This'type of device has been unsatisfactory because of the difficulties in completely removing and replacing pegs to adjust the operation thereof and because the number of pegs which physically fit, or the holes for mounting same, do not allow rclose spacing thereof for a fine graduation of timing units for which the device may be set.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to disclose and provide a timing disc and timing part assembly which is readily adapted for use in timing devices wherein a rotating timing part in the assembly interferes with associated stationary switch means and particularly wherein a plurality of rotating parts are all mounted upon a disc in close proximity to each other about the disc circumference to be selectable adjustable on the disc, the disc being associated with a motor means to be rotated at a predetermined speed.

It is also a principal object of the present invention to disclose and provide a timing disc and part assembly as in the foregoing object wherein each timing part may be very easily assembled to the disc and without being removed therefrom be selectably manually adjustable thereon between a retracted or inoperative position and a projected, operative or switch actuating position.

It is another object of the present invention to disclose and provide a timing part for use in a timing disc and part assembly wherein the part is of a generally flat wafer thin configuration which can be easily fabricated in one piece integral units out of strip material stock, or the like, and which can 'be assembled readily thereafter to the timing disc in operative relation therewith by merely sliding the individual parts onto the timing disc in a onestep operation.

It is a still further object of the present invention to disclose and provide a timing part as in the foregoing object wherein means are provided on the timing part 3,305,649 Patented Feb. 21, 1967 and timing disc for cooperative operation therebetween to mount each timing part generally normal to the disc in slidable assembled relation thereto for ready sliding movement therebetween but with a limit or restricted extent of movement for the timing part outwardly of the timing disc so that it is not inadvertently pushed off of the disc and so that its disposition into a switch operating position is facilitated.

Further objects and various advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a careful consideration of the following detailed explanation of an exemplary embodiment of the timing disc and part assembly, in accordance with the present invention. Reference will be made to the appended sheet of drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially schematic plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the timing disc and timing part assembly in accordance with the present invention shown in association with exemplary switch means and associated electrically operated means;

FIG. 2 is a partial section view of the assembly of FIG. 1 taken therein along the plane 22;

FIG. 3 is a section view of a portion of the assembly of FIG. 2 taken therein along the plane 33;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a timing part of the assembly of FIGS. 1 through 3; and

FIG. 5 is a section view of portion of the assembly taken along plane 5-5.

Referring now to the drawings, a detailed explanation of an exemplary timing disc and timing part assembly, in accordance with my present invention, will now be made. Referring to FIG. 1 initially, it may be seen that the timing disc and part assembly, indicated generally at 10, is adapted to be used with a mechanically operated switch means, as the exemplary electrical normally open switch means 20.

Switch means 20 may be employed in any electrical circuit, but for purposes of illustration, it is shown here used in conjunction with a timing device 21. Timing device 21 may be constructed and operated as are the timing devices disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 300,371, filed August 6, 1963, entitled Timing Devices. As shown, the timing device 21 may be electrically connected to the switch means 20 by a pair of lead lines 22 and 23 which connect to the switch terminals 24 and 25 respectively to be actuated or set in operation on closing of switch means 20. A source of potential, indicated generally at 26 and a manual on-off switch, indicated generally at 27, may be electrically interconnected into one of the lead lines, as line 22, between the timing device and the switch means 20. As seen in FIG. 2, an actuating lever 29 mounted on the body of the switch means 20 serves to depress or release the switch actuating button 28 thereby opening or closing respectively the electric circuit. Therefore, upon a mechanical interference between a portion of the timing disc and timing part assembly with the switch arm 29, the electrical circuit between the switch means and the timing device 21 to initiate its operation will be completed. Additional conventional circuitry may be employed to supply the timing device 21 with current to allow it to run its program, such as lead line 23'.

The timing disc and timing part assembly, indicated generally at 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2, is adapted to be mounted to a motor means M which may rotate the assembly at any predetermined speed. When using the assembly with the timing device 21 of my copending application, Serial No. 300,371, filed August 6, 1963, for example, the assembly may be rotated once every 24 hours. In the exemplary embodiment, such timing disc and timing part assembly includes the generally flat timing disc 11 which may be mounted to the drive shaft 12 of the motor means in any conventional manner. For example, a flange 13 may be provided on shaft 12 and the disc 11 may be secured thereto by a plurality of fasteners or screws 14, 15 and 16. Fastener 14 holds the disc to the flange while the additional smaller fasteners 15 and 16 relieve fastener 14 of any turning torque between the disc 11 and its mounting flange 13 which might tend to loosen the fastener 14.

Disc 11, as shown in the exemplary embodiment, preferably is provided with scale or indicator means, indicated generally at 17, to indicate a time scale to which the disc is adapted to operate. As shown in FIG. 1, the scale means, indicated generally at 17, is graduated in 15-minute segments for a 24-hour day, the numerals indicating the 24 hours in a day. Additional notations such as NOON and a directional arrow, indicated generally at 18, may also be printed on the face of the timing disc to facilitate the understanding of its operation, the disc rotating clockwise in FIG. 1.

A plurality of timing parts are mounted upon or assembled to the timing disc 11 to be adjusted thereon for selectable mechanical interference with the arm 29 of switch means 20 during timing rotation of the timing disc 11. In the exemplary embodiment, such timing parts comprise a plurality of relatively thin wafer-like plates or parts 30, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, which are easily assembled in relatively close proximity to each other on the timing disc 11. Each timing part 30 is assembled or mounted to the timing disc in a position thereon corresponding to each of the graduations of the scale means indicated generally at 17. Thus, an individual timing part 30 is provided in the exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, for each of the 15-minute divisions of a 24-hour day timing disc 11.

Timing disc 11 is provided with a plurality of radially inwardly extending slots 40, as best seen in FIG. 1, spaced about and originating at the circumference of disc 11. Each slot 40 is provided in disc 11 aligned to one of the graduations in the scale means, indicated generally at 17 in FIG. 1, to correspond to a segment of the time scale for the day. Slots 40 form a portion of the mounting means for mounting the timing parts 30 normal to and spaced about the timing disc aligned to the individual graduations of the timing scale indicated generally at 17 Mounting means for allowing the easy assembly or mounting to the timing disc of each of the timing parts 30 comprises, in the exemplary embodiment, a pair of cooperating slot means 40 and 31. The first such slot means comprises one of the slots 40 in the timing disc, as best seen in FIG. 1, and the second such cooperating slot means comprises slot means 31 provided in the waferlike timing part 30, as shown in FIG. 4. As best seen in FIG. 2, a timing part 30 may be received normal to the timing disc within each of the disc slots 40 with the part 30 in turn receiving a central portion 32 of the disc 11. Portion 32 is inwardly on disc 11 of the slots 40.

The cooperation between slot means 31 and 40 allows a radial sliding mounting or assembly of each timing part 30 to the timing disc in very closely spaced relationship with fine timing scale graduations to be selectively slidable from a fully inserted inoperative position of the part 30, shown in FIG. 1, and an extended operative or switch actuating position of the radially timing part 30", as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Means'for limiting the outward sliding movement of each timing part within its associated slot in the timing disc are provided which, while allowing the ready-assembly of the timing parts to the discs, prevent inadvertent removal of a timing part and facilitate the positioning of the timing part in its outer switch actuating position. in the exemplary embodiment, such limiting means includes theprovision of a recess 41 in one of the opposed innersurfaces of each of the slots 40 of the timing disc, as seen in FIG. 1. Each recess 41 forms a radially inwardly directed stop means or face 42 which cooperates with resilient means provided on each timing part 30 to limit the outward movement of the timing part 30 after it has been assembled to the timing disc.

Resilient means for slidably abutting the stop means included on the timing disc are provided on each timing part 30 to cooperate with one of the inner walls or surfaces of the associated slot 40 to abut the disc stop means and limit outward movement of the timing part in its switch actuator position, as shown by the timing part 30" in FIGS. 1 and 2. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and -4, such resilient means may be formed integrally of the flat wafer-like part 30 by bending or offsetting a portion of the body itself, as the offset arm 33.

Offset arm 33, due to its bend or offsetting, normally assumes the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 with upper portions of the arm lying outside the plane of the rela tively thin part 30. Arm 33 is resilient and biased into the normal position of FIGS. 3 and 4 due to the permanent deformation, bend or offsetting of the arm as described. Each part 30 is, therefore, very easily assembled to the timing disc 'by merely being inserted or slid into a corresponding slot 40 in the timing disc until the slot 31 of timing part 30 overrides or receives an inner portion, as 32 in FIG. 1, of the timing disc.

When a timing part 30 is received within a corresponding slot 40 of the timing disc, inwardly thereon of the recess 41 in the slot, the resilient arm 33 yields into the plane of the wafer-like part 30 allowing free sliding movement of the part into its fully retracted or inoperative position.

Digitally sensed means are provided on an upper outer edge of each timing part 30 to facilitate manual move= ment of the timing part. In the exemplary embodiment, as best seen in FIG. 4, a projection 34 is provided on the upper edge of the timing part 30. Such projections 34 are thereby presented outwardly of the front face of the timing disc when the parts are assembled to the disc, as shown in FIG. 1, to be easily manually sensed and employed in moving or sliding each of the timing parts radially between the retracted or inoperative position and the extended switch actuating position. For ease of operation the projections 34 are staggered as shown in FIG. 2.

Upon such manual outward movement of a timing part 30, the biased leg or exemplary resilient means 33 abuts and slides along the inner surface of the corresponding slot 40 until it is received within the side wall recess 41 for the corresponding slot 40 and such leg 33 abuts the radially inwardly facing stop wall 42. Each timing part can be readily removed from its assembled relationship with the timing disc 11 by merely biasing the resilient means into the plane of the wafer-like part 30 and sliding the part out of its corresponding slot 40, if desired.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the entire timing part and timing disc assembly may be readily constructed and assembled. The timing disc may be made of metal or other suitable material which can be stamped or otherwise machined to provide the plurality of slots 40. The scale means or time indicia, indicated generally at 17, may be printed upon the timing disc with whatever graduations desired, theassembly allowing a separate individual slot 40 and timing part for each graduation on the time scale. Each of the timing parts 30 may also be made of metal or other such suitable material which can be easily stamped out of flat material and which provides sufiicient resiliency to a leg member 33 permanently deformed or offset from the plane of the part 30. After the assembly has been mounted to a timing motor and associated with a timing switch, as the switch means 20, any individual timing part or combinations thereof mounted on the disc 11 may be selectably slid to the outer switch actuating position, the timing part resilient means abutting the timing disc stop means, to easily adjust the assembly for selectable operation of the switch means 20. No timing part need be removed or unduly adjusted in order to be made inoperative and the adjustment of any one part 30 does not affect the adjustment of any other part 30.

An additional important function of the bent arm 33 is to provide a friction fit necessary to prevent the part 30 from being pushed back when mechanically interfering with the switch arm 29.

The assembly of timing disc and timing parts and the arrangement thereof as disclosed and explained in detail herein is intended to be exemplary in character only and it should be understood that further modifications, alterations and embodiments may be made within the scope of my invention, as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A timing disc and adjustable timing part assembly for use in timing devices wherein a timing disc is mounted to a motor means and associated switch means are operable by intereference with the rotating adjustable timing parts, said assembly comprising:

a generally fiat timing disc adapted to be mounted to a timing motor and including a plurality of radiaily inwardly extending slots spaced about the disc circumference, each of said slots including a pair of opposed inner surfaces and a radially inwardly directed stop means formed in one of said inner surfaces; and

a plurality of timing parts mounted on and generally normal to said disc in said slots, each said timing part being selectively movable within one of said slots radially of said disc between an outer switch actuating position and an inner inoperative position; and

wherein each of said adjustable timing parts includes a laterally resilient arm means for slidably abutting said one inner surface during selective radial movement of said part to restrain said part within said slot in said outer switch actuating position by abutting said stop means on radially outward movement of said part in said slot.

2. In a timing device for actuating a mechanically actuated switch by interference between a portion of a rotating timer disc and the switch, the provision of:

a generally fiat timing disc to be operated by a timer motor and including a plurality of radially inwardly extending slots originating at and about the disc circumference, each said slot including a pair of opposed inner side surfaces and a radially inwardly facing stop shoulder formed in one of said surfaces; and

a plurality of timing members slidably received radially on and generally normal to said timing disc to be selectably positioned radially thereon between an outer operative position for interference with switch means associated with the disc and a radially inward inoperative position for non-interference with said switch means, each of said members being slidably received in one of said slots in said disc and having laterally resilient means thereon to frictionally engage one of the associated slot inner side surfaces to resist radial sliding movement within said slot between said operative and inoperative positions and to engage the slot inwardly facing stop shoulder upon outward movement of the member relative to said disc to place said member in said operative position.

3. The timing device of claim 2 wherein each said one of said surfaces includes a recess means therein providing said inwardly facing stop shoulder and each said timing member comprises:

a generally flat wafer-like body including a slot means therein to slidably receive a central portion of said disc which is inward of the disc slot on said disc in which the body is received; and

said resilient means is formed integrally of said body and biased laterally outwardly of the plane of said wafer-like body, said resilient means yielding against its bias into the plane of said body when said body is fully inserted into inoperative position in said disc slot between said slot side walls;

said resilient means normally abutting said one of said slot inner side surfaces under its bias to move out of the plane of said body, enter said recess means and abut said stop shoulder upon radially outward movement of said body within said slot into said operative position.

4. A generally flat wafer-like timing part to be employed with a timing device disc having a plurality of inwardly extending radial slots originating at the disc circumference characterized by its ease of assembly and selective operation without removal from the disc, said part comprising:

a generally flat wafer-like body including slot means to receive a portion of said disc when said body is fully inserted into a disc slot; and

resilient arm means on said body biased laterally outwardIy of said body to abut the inner wall of an associated disc slot, said resilient means yielding again its bias to allow radial sliding movement of said body within said disc slot.

5. The generally flat wafer-like timing part of claim 4 wherein said timing part is provided with a digitally sensed means on an outer edge thereof and extending axially of said disc for use in manual radial adjustment of said body between operative and inoperative positions within the associated disc slot.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,644,047 6/1953 Leonard 20038 FOREIGN PATENTS 304,516 3/1955 Switzerland.

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. G. MAIER, Examiner. 

1. A TIMING DISC AND ADJUSTABLE TIMING PART ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN TIMING DEVICES WHERIN A TIMING DISC IS MOUNTED TO A MOTOR MEANS AND ASSOCIATED SWITCH MEANS ARE OPERABLE BY INTERFERENCE WITH THE ROTATING ADJUSTABLE TIMING PARTS, SAID ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: A GENERALLY FLAT TIMING DISC ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED TO A TIMING MOTOR AND INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY INWARDLY EXTENDING SLOTS SPACED ABOUT THE DISC CIRCUMFERENCE, EACH OF SAID SLOTS INCLUDING A PAIR OF OPPOSED INNER SURFACES AND A RADIALLY INWARDLY DIRECTED STOP MEANS FORMED IN ONE OF SAID INNER SURFACES; AND A PLURALITY OF TIMING PARTS MOUNTED ON AND GENERALLY NORMAL TO SAID DISC IN SAID SLOTS, EACH SAID TIMING PART BEING SELECTIVELY MOVABLE WITHIN ONE OF SAID SLOTS RADIALLY OF SAID DISC BETWEEN AN OUTER SWITCH ACTUATING POSITION AND AN INNER INOPERATIVE POSITION; AND WHEREIN EACH OF SAID ADJUSTABLE TIMING PARTS INCLUDES A LATERALLY RESILIENT ARM MEANS FOR SLIDABLY ABUTTING SAID ONE INNER SURFACE DURING SELECTIVE RADIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID PART TO RESTRAIN SAID PART WITHIN SAID SLOT IN SAID OUTER SWITCH ACTUATING POSITION BY ABUTTING SAID STOP MEANS ON RADIALLY OUTWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID PART IN SAID SLOT. 